Live 2018 NFL Draft Grades

These Live 2018 NFL Draft Grades will be posted minutes after each pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Follow @walterfootball for updates.

2018 NFL Draft Grades - Round: Picks 1-16 | Picks 17-32 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | NFL Draft Team Grades | Supplemental

Los Angeles Chargers: Derwin James, S, Florida State A+ Grade
Five-Year Grade: A Grade

Derwin James has endured some injury issues throughout the early stages of his career, including a completely lost 2020 season. However, James has been an amazing player for the Chargers when he’s been on the field. And his health issues have gotten better, as he has missed just five games in the past two years.

One-Year Grade: A+ Grade

Yeah, this should remain an A+. If you don’t agree, you didn’t watch Derwin James dominate as a rookie. It’s unbelievable that he fell to 17th overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Buccaneers should’ve taken him with the seventh pick!

Original Write-up:

I think Tom Telesco is one of the better general managers in the NFL, but I thought he made a rare mistake last year when he opted for Mike Williams over Malik Hooker. The Ohio State product fell to the late teens, but should have been the seventh choice.

It’s nice to see that Telesco made amends for that decision. This time, James inexplicably fell, and Telesco wisely scooped him up. The Chargers have had a huge hole at safety for several seasons, but that’s no longer the case. James could have gone in the top 10, so this value is incredible. This is an A+ pick.

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Green Bay Packers: Jaire Alexander, CB, Louisville B- Grade
Five-Year Grade: A+ Grade

This is an easy A+ re-grade. Jaire Alexander has developed into one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL. His concerning health issues haven’t been as prevalent either. Excluding 2021, Alexander has missed only three games since his rookie campaign.

One-Year Grade: B+ Grade

I didn’t like this pick all that much at the time it was made because of Jaire Alexander’s durability history. Alexander performed on a very high level as a rookie last year, but he missed three games. I think it’s fair to expect him to miss about a quarter of the season most years, but the Packers will get tremendous play out of him when he’s 100 percent or close to it. I’m willing to bump this up to a B+, but I imagine that Packer fans will grow frustrated at watching their top corner being constantly banged up.

Original Write-up:

If Jaire Alexander can stay healthy, the Packers will be getting a terrific cornerback for their maligned secondary. The problem, however, is his durability. Some teams thought Alexander could slip to the second round because of all his injury issues. In fact, I think Alexander could have been available at No. 27, so I’m not thrilled about the Packers surrendering a third-round pick to get him. That said, Green Bay acquired a 2019 first-rounder in the entire process, so I’m not going to give them a bad grade. Again, if they luck out with Alexander’s health, they will have made a huge upgrade to the defensive backfield.
Dallas Cowboys: Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Boise State B Grade
Five-Year Grade: C- Grade

Charlie Campbell reported prior to the 2018 NFL Draft that a team removed Leighton Vander Esch from their draft board because of neck injury concerns. It turns out that their medical staff did a great job in evaluating him. Vander Esch has had major issues staying healthy. He hasn’t been a complete failure, as he’s been on the team the entire time, and he has played well when healthy, but his poor durability has hurt Dallas.

One-Year Grade: A+ Grade

Leighton Vander Esch is another player with severe durability issues. In fact, an NFC team removed him from their draft board completely because of major injury concerns. Vander Esch remained healthy during his rookie year, and what a year it was! Not only was he one of the best rookies in 2018, he was among the top linebackers in the entire league. Vander Esch should be a perennial Pro Bowler if his medical issues don’t become prevalent.

Original Write-up:

One NFC team medically flunked Leighton Vander Esch, but as Charlie and I explained on the podcast, this didn’t mean that he wasn’t going to fall out of the first round. Teams have different medical opinions of players, and Dallas obviously has no issues with Vander Esch’s neck. If Vander Esch remains healthy, he’ll be a terrific player in a Dallas defense that has historically struggled mightily whenever Sean Lee has been injured. Lee being hurt now won’t be as problematic moving forward, which is a good thing.

I’m giving this a “B” grade. I’d like the pick a lot more if there weren’t medical concerns about Vander Esch, but there’s a good chance his neck won’t be a problem, so I think this is a somewhat solid, albeit risky choice.

Detroit Lions: Frank Ragnow, C, Arkansas A- Grade
Five-Year Grade: B+ Grade

Frank Ragnow had a bad start to his career, but he’s been stellar ever since. He’s been one of the better centers in both 2020 and 2022 – he missed most of 2021 – so this five-year re-grade should be rated higher than the one-year regrade.

One-Year Grade: C+ Grade

Frank Ragnow didn’t have a great rookie year, but he managed to start on Detroit’s offensive line and had some decent games. Still, it was a disappointing debut for Ragnow, so this grade should be downgraded into the “C” range. Ragnow could very easily make great improvements next season, and it wouldn’t surprise me if this were back to something like an A- when I revisit this in four years.

Original Write-up:

That sound you hear is the collective hearts of the Bengals’ front office breaking upon learning about this pick. Frank Ragnow was set to go 21st overall, but the Lions also needed a center, so they snatched the Arkansas product off the board.

This is a solid pick. Ragnow is a terrific center who didn’t surrender a single sack last year playing in the SEC. He fills a huge need, which the Lions had after losing Travis Swanson in free agency.
Cincinnati Bengals: Billy Price, C, Ohio State B+ Grade
Five-Year Grade: F Grade

You have to feel for the Bengals, who really wanted Frank Ragnow. Had they landed Ragnow, there’s a good chance they would have won a Super Bowl with Joe Burrow by now. Instead, they watched the Lions snatch Ragnow off the board, forcing them into drafting Billy Price. There’s a reason Price went after Ragnow, as he’s been a terrible blocker for multiple teams thus far in his career.

One-Year Grade: C+ Grade

The Bengals wanted Frank Ragnow, but had to settle for Billy Price. The Ohio State product did not perform well as a rookie in the slightest. However, his struggles could be blamed on an injury he suffered early in the year. Price missed about two months of action and didn’t look the same upon his return, so I won’t grade this too harshly.

Original Write-up:

And the run on centers begins! Actually, not really, as the Bengals were going to select a center the entire time. They wanted Frank Ragnow, but Billy Price is a nice consolation prize. In fact, I thought they’d take Price when his medical concerns were still apparent.

Fortunately for Price, he’s been medically cleared. He’s the top blocker on the board, and Cincinnati absolutely had to upgrade the line. The only concern is that Price may not be ready to play until August, but he could return before then. It’s just a minor worry, so this is a good pick.

Tennessee Titans: Rashaan Evans, LB, Alabama A- Grade
Five-Year Grade: C- Grade

Rashaan Evans is still a starter in the NFL, so this grade can’t be a failure. However, Evans has definitely been a disappoinment in the NFL. He was pretty pedestrian for the Falcons last year, so his time to prove himself as a starter is quickly expiring.

One-Year Grade: B- Grade

Rashaan Evans was just a two-down player for the Titans last year, ceding snaps to Jayon Brown and Wesley Woodyard. I imagine Evans will have more snaps as the years progress, but he struggled in coverage as a rookie, which wasn’t a good sign for his ability to play on third down. Still, Evans was solid in run support, and he has lots of potential.

Original Write-up:

The Titans lost Avery Williamson in free agency, so they had to replace him. With Leighton Vander Esch being taken off the board, there was just one first-round inside linebacker remaining, so I like the Titans taking the initiative and moving up three spots to secure him. Tennessee also needed an edge rusher, but those will be available in Round 2. A player like Evans would not be.
New England Patriots: Isaiah Wynn, OT, Georgia C+ Grade
Five-Year Grade: C- Grade

Isaiah Wynn rebounded well from his Achilles. He was stellar in 2020 in particular, but has regressed rapidly since. He is constantly dealing with injuries, and as a consequence, he’s no longer a quality starting tackle in the NFL. Wynn, however, could turn his career around if his health improves, but that doesn’t seem likely to happen.

One-Year Grade: Inc. Grade

Isaiah Wynn missed his entire rookie year because of a torn Achilles. It’ll be interesting to see how he grades four years from now.

Original Write-up:

There were mixed thoughts on Isaiah Wynn in the pre-draft process, as some teams thought he could go in the first round, while others believed he would be taken early on Round 2. I think this is a fine choice because protecting Tom Brady, especially at age 41, is incredibly important.

What’s interesting is that Wynn was introduced as a left tackle, and that’s why I don’t love this selection. Wynn has athleticism, but he lacks the length to be a successful tackle. Sure, there have been exceptions, but history is going against Wynn and his 32-inch arms.

Carolina Panthers: D.J. Moore, WR, Maryland A Grade
Five-Year Grade: A Grade

There are no complaints here, as my original “A” grade for this pick still stands. D.J. Moore was in the dog house early in his career due to a crazy speeding ticket, but he has emerged as a solid No. 1 receiver ever since. Moore has produced well despite playing with nothing but poor quarterbacks, so it’s exciting to see what he’ll be able to accomplish with a better passer.

One-Year Grade: B+ Grade

D.J. Moore was having a nice training camp until he was clocked at 113 mph. He went into Ron Rivera’s dog house for about two months after that, but he emerged and had a strong second half to his rookie campaign. Beginning in Week 8, Moore caught at least four passes in seven of his 10 games, and he had back-to-back performances where he had lines of 7-157-1 and 8-91. Moore is looking like he’s going to have a strong second season in the NFL.

Original Write-up:

I imagine there will be some publications who think D.J. Moore was taken too early, or that Calvin Ridley should have been the pick, but I can tell you this: One team in the teens had Moore as its No. 2 option. Moore could have gone about 8-12 selections earlier than this, so I think this is great value.

Moore definitely fills a huge need as well. The Panthers had no No. 1 receiver, thanks to the Kelvin Benjamin trade, and Moore certainly changes that.
Baltimore Ravens: Hayden Hurst, TE, South Carolina B+ Grade
Five-Year Grade: D Grade

This pick is still baffling because the Ravens selected Mark Andrews in the second round of this very draft. Why bother with Hayden Hurst then? Hurst has been a fine tight end for several teams, but he was definitely not a first round-caliber prospect.

One-Year Grade: D Grade

This was a strange pick. Not at the time, but a day later when the Ravens selected Mark Andrews, another tight end. This redundant draft choice didn’t make much sense to me, and it seems as though Hayden Hurst is behind Andrews right now. That could change in the future, but Hurst finished his rookie year with only 13 receptions.

Original Write-up:

Good for the Ravens for trading down twice. They wanted a tight end, but it would’ve been insane to take either Hayden Hurst or Dallas Goedert at No. 16. At No. 25, it’s much more reasonable.

The Ravens are filling a big need here with Hurst, and they got good value via the trades. The one concern with Hurst is his age (25), which could mean that he’s already maxed out, but Baltimore should be getting a player who can help Joe Flacco quite a bit.

Atlanta Falcons: Calvin Ridley, WR, Alabama A- Grade
Five-Year Grade: B Grade

This pick was an A+ prior to the midway point of the 2021 season. That’s when Calvin Ridley quit on the team and was then suspended for an entire year for gambling on football games. There’s no way the Falcons could have seen this coming, so I won’t dock them too much for Ridley, who has been a phenomenal talent when on the field.

One-Year Grade: A Grade

Calvin Ridley got off to a hot start in his rookie year, hauling in six touchdowns in his first four games. He cooled off after that and went into a slump during the midway point of the season, but he had some nice performances to close out the year. Ridley has shown the ability to be a dynamic No. 2 receiver in the pros, and it’ll be interesting to see how he develops with a real offensive coordinator. This pick is definitely worth an “A.”

Original Write-up:

Everyone was expecting the Falcons to pick a defensive lineman, or perhaps a blocker. Those would’ve fit the greatest needs, but receiver makes a ton of sense as well. The Falcons’ offense collapses whenever Julio Jones gets hurt – they lost at home to the Bills without him this past season – so acquiring a legitimate No. 2 wideout was very necessary. Ridley was once projected as a top-10 prospect, but this range makes more sense. Still, Ridley is a nice bargain at No. 26, and his terrific route running will allow him to develop quickly and contribute as soon as possible. I like this pick a lot, despite Ridley’s perceived declining draft stock.
Seattle Seahawks: Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State D Grade
Five-Year Grade: F Grade

I’m disappointed in myself that I didn’t fail the Seahawks for making this odd pick. It came out of left field, as Rashaad Penny wasn’t considered a first-round prospect at the time by many teams. And if the Seahawks really wanted a running back, they could have selected Nick Chubb instead.

One-Year Grade: C- Grade

I didn’t like this pick at all when it was made, and I’m still not a fan. Rashaad Penny showed some flashes that he could be a solid running back in the NFL, but he wasn’t able to surpass Chris Carson on the depth chart. Penny didn’t seem like a first-round prospect to me last spring, but that’s not even the issue now. The problem is that Carson stands in Penny’s way of starting, so with a talented running back like that on the roster, why use an opening-round choice on a player at the same position?

Original Write-up:

The Seahawks are clearly eager to replace Marshawn Lynch, but this is not a good decision. Rashaad Penny was seen as a second- or third-round prospect among teams. I know one team in the early 40s that was targeting him, and I imagine they’re surprised that he was taken.

I almost gave this a Millen grade – I would’ve gone with Kielbasa-Mode – but the Seahawks don’t have a second-round choice and almost certainly wouldn’t have gotten Penny in the third. So, I understand this pick … sort of. The Seahawks could’ve traded down once more to get Penny.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Terrell Edmunds, LB/S, Virginia Tech Kielbasa-Mode Grade
Five-Year Grade: C Grade

This selection wasn’t as bad as I made it out to be at the time. I still say Terrell Edmunds was a reach, but he has been a mediocre starting safety in the NFL. There were far worse picks in the opening round of the 2018 NFL Draft, so I’m willing to bump this up into the “C” range.

One-Year Grade: F Grade

This pick was an “F” at the time it was made, and my grade hasn’t changed after a year. Terrell Edmunds was a massive reach at the end of the opening round, as he was just a third-round prospect. Edmunds predictably struggled as a rookie.

Original Write-up:

I didn’t get to use Kielbasa-Mode for the Seahawks’ pick, so here we go! What a wonderful night to have a second Millen grade.

This is a mega reach. Teams expected Edmunds to be available in the second, maybe even third round. He’s not his brother; he’s not nearly the athlete, nor the player. Yet, the Steelers are taking him because they have an immense need at linebacker – I imagine he’ll make the move there, much like Deone Bucannon – and all of the first-round prospects at the position were taken already. Selecting Edmunds over someone like Harold Landry seems insane to me.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Taven Bryan, DT, Florida A- Grade
Five-Year Grade: D- Grade

I was way off on this one. Taven Bryan was an average-level backup in the NFL for the Jaguars. Bryan was supposed to replace Calais Campbell, but he couldn’t even crack the starting lineup on most occasions. He was able to start for the Browns in 2022, but he’s a major reason why Cleveland was so bad versus the run.

One-Year Grade: Inc. Grade

Taven Bryan didn’t get to play all that much as a rookie, but that was never the plan. The Jaguars have some serious financial problems, so they’re going to cut several defensive linemen this offseason. Bryan will have a huge role next year, so we’ll get to see what he’s made of. Bryan flashed on the rare occasions in which he got to play this past season, so he could have a big 2019.

Original Write-up:

Taven Bryan doesn’t exactly fill a need, but the first round is not necessarily a time for needs. Selecting the best player available who makes sense is usually a winning strategy, and the Jaguars appear to have made a very strong move.

Bryan was being discussed as a possible top-20 prospect. Getting him at No. 30 is great value, and it doesn’t hurt to have another interior pass-rusher to rattle Deshaun Watson.
Minnesota Vikings: Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida A Grade
Five-Year Grade: C- Grade

Mike Hughes has bounced around the NFL, playing for three teams thus far. He has played just fine at times, but his biggest issue has been staying healthy. This five-year re-grade must be much lower than the original and one-year re-grade.

One-Year Grade: B+ Grade

The Vikings got a nice value selection with Mike Hughes at No. 30 because of character issues. He played well for the Vikings in the first half of the season as the team’s slot cornerback. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL in Week 6. The silver lining is that this injury occurred early in the year, so Hughes should be 100 percent by the start of the 2019 campaign.

Original Write-up:

Mike Hughes would have gone earlier than this if he didn’t have some off-the-field incidents, but those aren’t considered a big deal amongst teams. With that in mind, I think this is a terrific selection. Hughes is extremely talented, and he’ll provide a big upgrade over Terence Newman in the slot. The Vikings’ secondary was torched in the NFC Championship, and Hughes will help make sure that won’t happen again.

As an added bonus, Hughes will strengthen Minnesota’s return game. The Vikings needed help in this regard, and Hughes will be a dynamic threat as a return specialist.
New England Patriots: Sony Michel, RB, Georgia A- Grade
Five-Year Grade: F Grade

It’s safe to say that the Patriots chose the wrong Georgia running back. Nick Chubb has been one of the best pure running backs in the NFL, while Sony Michel is barely hanging on in the league right now.

One-Year Grade: B Grade

Sony Michel didn’t reach 1,000 rushing yards in his rookie campaign, but only because he missed three games. He flashed his potential in the playoffs with a big performance in the AFC Championship. Michel, however, offered nothing as a receiver, catching only seven passes. That’s disappointing for a first-round running back, so it makes me wonder if the Patriots should have waited on a running back.

Original Write-up:

This pick surprises me a bit. Bill Belichick hates when running backs fumble. Mike Gillislee fumbled last year and wasn’t heard from again for months. Sony Michel’s one weakness on the field is his fumbling. Maybe Belichick thinks he can fix that problem, but if he doesn’t, Michel could be in the dog house.

That said, I still love this pick. Michel was my No. 2 running back, as he’s a dynamic player with Alvin Kamara-type ability. With Dion Lewis gone, it made sense to bring in Michel.

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville A+ Grade
Five-Year Grade: A+ Grade

It’s strange that the Ravens were willing to risk losing Lamar Jackson to other teams, including the Steelers, because they wanted to pick Hayden Hurst instead. I don’t understand that logic. At any rate, this is an obvious A+ re-grade. Jackson won MVP in his second year and has been stellar when Baltimore has been able to place great talent around him. Jackson has spent a bit too much time on the injured list lately, but this was still an amazing selection.

One-Year Grade: A+ Grade

Prior to the playoffs, the consensus was that Lamar Jackson was the second-best rookie quarterback, behind only Baker Mayfield. The Chargers were able to expose some of his flaws in the opening round of the postseason. However, Jackson has enormous potential. If he can improve as a passer, he’s going to be a very dangerous threat, thanks to his dynamic running ability. It was smart of the Ravens to go after Joe Flacco’s successor with the final pick of the opening round, when at least one team in the top 10 selected an inferior quarterback.

Original Write-up:

It’s so weird that the Ravens passed on Lamar Jackson several picks ago, allowing him to slip to the Steelers, who were rumored to like him. That doesn’t exactly show that they have a lot of confidence in him.

And yet, the Ravens traded up for him. It’s strange, but I think it’s an excellent decision. Jackson has a lot to work on – he’s very raw; his mechanics need to be repaired; his accuracy is inconsistent; and his Wonderlic score was super low (13) – but his potential is through the roof. I believe he’ll be a very good starter in the NFL if he gets great coaching, and he should have that in Baltimore.

I love this fit. The Ravens can sit Jackson behind Joe Flacco for a couple of years before he’s ready. There’s also a chance Jackson could play sooner than that, given Flacco’s injury history. Jackson could have easily been chosen at No. 16, so he provides great value at the end of the first round, trade or not. This is an A+ pick.